Device for relieving the tension of draw-bars



(N0 Model.) Q

C. A. SCHROYER 81; E. B. THOMPSON.

DEVICE FOR RELIEVING THE TENSION 0F DRAW BARS. No. 449,828. Patented Aprk'i, 1891.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. SCHROYER AND EDGAR B. THOMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.DEVICE FOR RELIEVING THE TENSION OF DRAW-BARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,828, dated April 7, 1891.

Original application filed May 24, 1890, $erial No.

352,987. Divided and this application filed February 9, 1891. Serial No. 380,806. (No model.)

To all whom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. SOHROYER- and EDGAR B. THOMPSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Device for Relieving the Tension of Draw- Bars, of which the following is a specification.

This application is intended as a division of the application filed by us May 2%, 1890, Serial No.-352,9S7; and the object of the invention intended to be covered hereby is -to relieve the draw-bars of the tension and the draft-spring of the compression to which they are subjected when the cars are coupled, owing to the compression of the buffer-springs, which tends to force the buffers apart and pull the faces of the hooks together. This renders it easy to uncouple, and the object of the invention is accomplished by providing suitable means, as hereinafter described, for allowing the forward movement of the draw-bar.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a draft-bar provided with our improved device, the platform being shown in section and the bufier-bar and spring being also shown. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 3 of Fig.1,looking in the direction of the arrow; and Fig. 3 is a detail showing the operating-lever.

A is the end timber of the car; I), the buffer and stem; C, the buffer-spring; D, the coupling-hook; E, the draw-bar; F, the draftspring; G G, a two-part clutch, and H a lever for operating the same.

The platform of a car equipped with our invention, the draw-bar, draft-springs, buffer, and buifer-sprin gs are made in the usual way, except as hereinafter set forth,and inasmuch as their construction is well known and will be obvious from an inspection of the drawings, they require and will receive no further description. The draft-spring is placed upon the draw-bar between two plates or followers ff, and upon the bar behind the latter is mounted a two-part clutch G G, shown in Fig. 1 as disengaged but adapted to be brought into engagement by revolving either of the parts thereof. A nutf holds all the parts upon the draw-bar. One of the parts of the clutch, preferably G, is loosely mounted upon the draw-bar, the other part being rigidly fixed thereto. Attached to this part G is an arm g, connecting with a suitable lever II, which extends up through the platform of the car and by which the clutch is rotated in one direction or the other. This lever slides up and down in a sleeve 71, pivoted to the carplatform,as shown. Any other means may, however, be employed to revolve the clutch, this lever being shown as one means only.

The mode of operation is as follows: The cars being coupled to the parts of the clutch, &c.,in the position shown in Fig. 1,if itis desired to uncouple, the arm 9 is forced downward by means of the lever I-I, revolving the part G of the clutch toward the left, Fig. 3, until the clutch-points pass each other. As soon as this occurs the tension on the drawbar will force the clutch-follower G forward, its points entering between the points of the part G. This allows the draft-bar to move forward and relieves the tension, rendering it easy to uncouple the cars, relieving at the same time the compression of the draft-spring. The cars being uncoupled, the part Gshould be revolved back again to its original position, separating the parts of the clutch and restoring them to the position shown in Fig. 1. This can be done whether the cars are coupled or uncoupled, but of course is more easily done in the latter case.

\Ve claim- The combination of a coupling-hook, a drawbar and draft-spring, atwo-part clutch mounted on the draw-bar, and means whereby the two parts of the clutch are brought into position to engage to release the tension of the draw-bar, substantially as described.

CHARLES A. SCHROYER. EDGAR B. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

B. B. I'IICKMAN, M. P. VAN Hook. 

